Barry Benton has spent most of his life with a camera nearby.
His interest in photography started on a family road trip in the 1970s, somewhere between Louisiana and the Colorado Rockies, when he began taking pictures out of the car window just to pass the time. Most of the photos were probably of nothing in particular, but the experience started something that never really went away.
Over the years, Barry’s love of photography grew into both a creative pursuit and a professional career. He has spent decades working in and around the photography industry, including many years in leadership, business development, client service, and photographer coaching with Gittings Global, one of the most respected names in professional portrait photography.
That background shapes the way Barry teaches. He believes photography should be approachable, practical, and grounded in real-world experience. Whether he is helping someone understand camera settings, work through a composition, prepare for changing light, or think more intentionally in the field, Barry’s goal is to make photography feel less intimidating and more rewarding.
At Benton Downs Photography, Barry helps lead small-group workshops for photographers who want to grow their skills, travel with purpose, and create images they are proud to share. His teaching style is supportive, clear, and hands-on, with an emphasis on learning in the field rather than simply talking about photography in a classroom.
Barry especially enjoys helping photographers move from “I hope this turns out” to “I know why this works.”